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Has the world gone CRAZY??

Posted on August 17, 2022 · Leave a Comment

It feels like the entire world has gone completely crazy

The world seems to be getting crazier every day. It is amazing the number of things happening now that most of us thought were permanently in the past or would have been dumbfounded 15 years ago to think we would ever see at all. Russia flat-out invading countries in a virtual re-enactment of the tactics and justifications of Nazi Germany. (Having to actually think seriously again about possible nuclear war). Anti-Semitism on the rise – swastikas everywhere. Racist violence on the rise – against various minority groups. Women’s reproductive rights being rolled back 50 years or more, and the word “woman” still needing to be defined.

 Freedom of speech coming under attack (I’ve had friends who have gotten blackmailed by FB—yup—pay $900 or lose your account with all your family pictures for the past 20 years!) – with politicians actually dictating what words or concepts high school teachers and even university professors can even say. Perfectly innocuous – even highly educational and inspirational – books being banned and burned. People furiously protesting, being asked to wear masks or get vaccinated during a deadly pandemic.

It feels like we’re going backwards.

Where is good old patriotism. I remember being SO proud of my country when I was a child. My parents taught me to respect politicians no matter what. And to this day, I refer to all as “Sir’ and I give respect to the office. No so with so many ‘bashing’ the party’s candidate that they don’t like.

People are so intensely divided nowadays over political issues, with rage bubbling right there on the surface, threatening violence and even murder on their own friends and relatives (heck, I got my concealed carry permit after a road rage incident that was unnecessary and scary—to say the least!)

 Not just social media, but traditional media like newspapers and radio, frequently feature “pundits” expressing hatred for or even calling for violence against those who disagree with them. Where are the days of Walter Cronkite??? Just the facts???

This has, in fact, extended beyond politics and into the sphere of daily interaction. People are a lot ruder than they were a few years ago—more cautious. Know that, in past years, I always knew many, many people – friends, relatives, co-workers – with whom I could disagree about politics while both of us remained respectful and cordial. That number has dwindled alarmingly, yet I refuse to alienate my friends who are of other political affiliations. Sometimes “I” am the only Jesus people see. He was very non-political and all about love. I like that.

As an individual, I have a hard time reconciling all this with the country I thought I was living in for most of my life. As a historian, archeologist, and anthropologist, though, I know that there have always been strains of this phenomenon present – they seem to be in remission from time to time, like an aggressive cancer, but they always seem to show back up. There was plenty of anger, division, vitriol, and violence in the Vietnam era. The 1950s, too, while they may look like “Leave It to Beaver” in my imagination, had a lot of violent, hateful people doing very cruel things to little children of color who were just trying to go to school. Heck, 160 years ago, Americans were killing each other by the hundreds of thousands in the Civil War. (I love North/South by John Jakes—very revealing given the times we are in, and I love the movie “Ruby Bridges”—watch them!!)

I believe in working to move the country forward to something better, not dragging it back to some imaginary “good old days” that were really not that good for many. A lot of people have been trying to do the latter – if you think all this is “making America great again,” you’re crazy. But there WERE good old days—and when I think of them, I think of the “great generation”—especially my grandparents, parents, and aunts and uncles.

I have always tended to be a peacemaker and tried to bring people together. Despite that, appeasement is not the answer. I say that with deep sadness, not with anger.

Every day we have the opportunity to show the people around us the love and hope that we have in Christ. Yet by and large, we fail at doing this in the arena of politics. Infortunatly, Christians have placed their hope in their political candidate rather than in God (I NEVER have—I’ve learned my lesson!). I know your gut reaction is probably, That’s not me. But check your heart: Where have you really placed your hope? What if your party loses this election; how will you react?

While we have the opportunity to show the hope we have in Jesus, all too often we display fear, anger, and worry. Rather than love, we fight. Rather than strive for unity we throw stones at the other side. Instead of resting in the peace God gives us, we worry about what we cannot control. We have placed our hope in politics, and our actions show it. Sometimes we even deny scientific facts that don’t fit our narrative.

That’s not the way it should be. I think there are a few things we need to remind ourselves of about the election and politics.

Politics Will Fail You, God Won’t 

When we put our hope in something other than Christ, we will eventually be let down. Maybe not today, but one day we will be.

If your hope is in the next political candidate, some political ideology, or making sure that person doesn’t get elected, you will be let down. Even if your candidate gets (re)elected and makes incredible improvements, at some point, politics will still fail you. They simply cannot give you what they promise. Only one person can do that.

When we place our hope in something or someone other than God, we build our lives on a faulty foundation. And it will collapse—maybe not today, but one day it will, and it will cost us dearly.

Again, I’m not saying you shouldn’t vote or care about what’s happening in this country. You should. I’m cautioning us to be aware of where our heart lies. An increasing number of Christians are willing to sacrifice their faith for their political beliefs, nationalism, and (ironically) religious freedoms. That’s a dangerous game to play, one that will eventually cost you and this country.

Look Past Party Lines

I hear this argument regularly as to why someone would never support anything the opposing party does. But I think this is the wrong approach. Actually, I think it’s detrimental to hold this view. Supporting a party is not an all-or-nothing approach. At least, it shouldn’t be for Christians.

Here’s what I’m getting at: we need to look past our party lines. There is truth on both sides, and there is evil on both sides.

If you are a Christian, you must support truth. On BOTH sides. If you are a Christian, you must stand against evil. On BOTH sides.

And just to be clear, I’m talking about truth and evil as defined by God and the Bible, not what you might consider evil based upon your political beliefs. Many (not all) of the issues that outrage Christians do not outrage God.

As Christians, we should boldly stand for God’s truth and push back against evil as God defines it.

We have an incredible opportunity to show the world the love of God. But until we can disentangle ourselves from our political allegiances, our message will always fall flat.

Strive For Unity, Not Division

Unity is the most sacred thing we can strive for. 

Unity should be of the utmost importance to Christians. Think about it. We serve a God that lives in perfect triune unity, Who seeks unity with His creation and commands us to have unity with one another. Unity is one of, if not the most central themes in the Bible.

In John 13:34-35, Jesus gives his followers a new marching order, a distinguishing mark by which they will be known. From now on, people will know you are my followers by the way you love (treat) one another. This is new and revolutionary. No longer did the Law distinguish followers of God. From now on, it is how we treat each other that will set us apart.

***When did people lost the ability to ‘agree to disagree??”

We would rather hold onto our political rights and freedoms than pursue unity. And no, I’m not saying your political beliefs aren’t important. Rather, I’m saying there’s something more important. A Christian’s primary goal in life should be to love God and love others.

Would you be willing to have someone who voted differently than you over to your house? Have you bashed people from the other political party before? What have you said about a person created in God’s image online? Actually, examine yourself. What’s the distinguishing mark in your life? Are you striving for unity?

Should Christians Worry About Politics?

Finally, stop worrying. Simple, right?

Easy to say, hard to live out.

Christians ought not be worried about the election or what happens in our country.

Hear me on this. I’m not saying Christians shouldn’t be involved. I’m not saying Christians shouldn’t care. We should care greatly and be involved regularly. What I’m saying is that Christians shouldn’t worry about politics or what will happen in November. GOD IS ON THE THRONE!!

As Christians, our hope is not found in the next president. The next social program. The next law. Or anything else the government can do. Our hope is found in Christ alone. Period.

How we live might change. Temporary consequences might stack up. But at the end of the day, only Jesus has the power to make any meaningful change in our lives. No one.

Because of what Jesus has done, we can live at peace and with joy—not based on our circumstances, but because God is good. The sky is not falling. God is still on the throne, and all His promises are true. Could this country go down the drain? Maybe, I don’t know. But I do know that God’s Kingdom will remain. So, we have no need to worry. We can have peace in the presence of our heavenly father.

Filed Under: News and Announcements, Uncategorized ·

Speak Your Mind

*

It feels like the entire world has gone completely crazy The world seems to be getting crazier every day. It is amazing the number of things happening now that most of us thought were permanently in the past or would have been dumbfounded 15 years ago to think we would ever see at all. Russia flat-out invading countries in a virtual re-enactment of the tactics and justifications of Nazi Germany. (Having to actually think seriously again about possible nuclear war). Anti-Semitism on the rise – swastikas everywhere. Racist violence on the rise - against various minority groups. Women’s reproductive rights being rolled back 50 years or more, and the word “woman” still needing to be defined. Freedom of speech coming under attack (I’ve had friends who have gotten blackmailed by FB—yup—pay $900 or lose your account with all your family pictures for the past 20 years!) - with politicians actually dictating what words or concepts high school teachers and even university professors can even say. Perfectly innocuous - even highly educational and inspirational - books being banned and burned. People furiously protesting, being asked to wear masks or get vaccinated during a deadly pandemic. It feels like we’re going backwards. Where is good old patriotism. I remember being SO proud of my country when I was a child. My parents taught me to respect politicians no matter what. And to this day, I refer to all as “Sir’ and I give respect to the office. No so with so many ‘bashing’ the party’s candidate that they don’t like. People are so intensely divided nowadays over political issues, with rage bubbling right there on the surface, threatening violence and even murder on their own friends and relatives (heck, I got my concealed carry permit after a road rage incident that was unnecessary and scary—to say the least!) Not just social media, but traditional media like newspapers and radio, frequently feature “pundits” expressing hatred for or even calling for violence against those who disagree with them. Where are the days of Walter Cronkite??? Just the facts??? This has, in fact, extended beyond politics and into the sphere of daily interaction. People are a lot ruder than they were a few years ago—more cautious. Know that, in past years, I always knew many, many people - friends, relatives, co-workers - with whom I could disagree about politics while both of us remained respectful and cordial. That number has dwindled alarmingly, yet I refuse to alienate my friends who are of other political affiliations. Sometimes “I” am the only Jesus people see. He was very non-political and all about love. I like that. As an individual, I have a hard time reconciling all this with the country I thought I was living in for most of my life. As a historian, archeologist, and anthropologist, though, I know that there have always been strains of this phenomenon present - they seem to be in remission from time to time, like an aggressive cancer, but they always seem to show back up. There was plenty of anger, division, vitriol, and violence in the Vietnam era. The 1950s, too, while they may look like “Leave It to Beaver” in my imagination, had a lot of violent, hateful people doing very cruel things to little children of color who were just trying to go to school. Heck, 160 years ago, Americans were killing each other by the hundreds of thousands in the Civil War. (I love North/South by John Jakes—very revealing given the times we are in, and I love the movie “Ruby Bridges”—watch them!!) I believe in working to move the country forward to something better, not dragging it back to some imaginary “good old days” that were really not that good for many. A lot of people have been trying to do the latter - if you think all this is “making America great again,” you’re crazy. But there WERE good old days—and when I think of them, I think of the “great generation”—especially my grandparents, parents, and aunts and uncles. I have always tended to be a peacemaker and tried to bring people together. Despite that, appeasement is not the answer. I say that with deep sadness, not with anger. Every day we have the opportunity to show the people around us the love and hope that we have in Christ. Yet by and large, we fail at doing this in the arena of politics. Infortunatly, Christians have placed their hope in their political candidate rather than in God (I NEVER have—I’ve learned my lesson!). I know your gut reaction is probably, That’s not me. But check your heart: Where have you really placed your hope? What if your party loses this election; how will you react? While we have the opportunity to show the hope we have in Jesus, all too often we display fear, anger, and worry. Rather than love, we fight. Rather than strive for unity we throw stones at the other side. Instead of resting in the peace God gives us, we worry about what we cannot control. We have placed our hope in politics, and our actions show it. Sometimes we even deny scientific facts that don’t fit our narrative. That’s not the way it should be. I think there are a few things we need to remind ourselves of about the election and politics. Politics Will Fail You, God Won’t When we put our hope in something other than Christ, we will eventually be let down. Maybe not today, but one day we will be. If your hope is in the next political candidate, some political ideology, or making sure that person doesn’t get elected, you will be let down. Even if your candidate gets (re)elected and makes incredible improvements, at some point, politics will still fail you. They simply cannot give you what they promise. Only one person can do that. When we place our hope in something or someone other than God, we build our lives on a faulty foundation. And it will collapse—maybe not today, but one day it will, and it will cost us dearly. Again, I’m not saying you shouldn’t vote or care about what’s happening in this country. You should. I’m cautioning us to be aware of where our heart lies. An increasing number of Christians are willing to sacrifice their faith for their political beliefs, nationalism, and (ironically) religious freedoms. That’s a dangerous game to play, one that will eventually cost you and this country. Look Past Party Lines I hear this argument regularly as to why someone would never support anything the opposing party does. But I think this is the wrong approach. Actually, I think it’s detrimental to hold this view. Supporting a party is not an all-or-nothing approach. At least, it shouldn’t be for Christians. Here’s what I’m getting at: we need to look past our party lines. There is truth on both sides, and there is evil on both sides. If you are a Christian, you must support truth. On BOTH sides. If you are a Christian, you must stand against evil. On BOTH sides. And just to be clear, I’m talking about truth and evil as defined by God and the Bible, not what you might consider evil based upon your political beliefs. Many (not all) of the issues that outrage Christians do not outrage God. As Christians, we should boldly stand for God’s truth and push back against evil as God defines it. We have an incredible opportunity to show the world the love of God. But until we can disentangle ourselves from our political allegiances, our message will always fall flat. Strive For Unity, Not Division Unity is the most sacred thing we can strive for. Unity should be of the utmost importance to Christians. Think about it. We serve a God that lives in perfect triune unity, Who seeks unity with His creation and commands us to have unity with one another. Unity is one of, if not the most central themes in the Bible. In John 13:34-35, Jesus gives his followers a new marching order, a distinguishing mark by which they will be known. From now on, people will know you are my followers by the way you love (treat) one another. This is new and revolutionary. No longer did the Law distinguish followers of God. From now on, it is how we treat each other that will set us apart. ***When did people lost the ability to ‘agree to disagree??” We would rather hold onto our political rights and freedoms than pursue unity. And no, I’m not saying your political beliefs aren’t important. Rather, I’m saying there’s something more important. A Christian’s primary goal in life should be to love God and love others. Would you be willing to have someone who voted differently than you over to your house? Have you bashed people from the other political party before? What have you said about a person created in God’s image online? Actually, examine yourself. What’s the distinguishing mark in your life? Are you striving for unity? Should Christians Worry About Politics? Finally, stop worrying. Simple, right? Easy to say, hard to live out. Christians ought not be worried about the election or what happens in our country. Hear me on this. I’m not saying Christians shouldn’t be involved. I’m not saying Christians shouldn’t care. We should care greatly and be involved regularly. What I’m saying is that Christians shouldn’t worry about politics or what will happen in November. GOD IS ON THE THRONE!! As Christians, our hope is not found in the next president. The next social program. The next law. Or anything else the government can do. Our hope is found in Christ alone. Period. How we live might change. Temporary consequences might stack up. But at the end of the day, only Jesus has the power to make any meaningful change in our lives. No one. Because of what Jesus has done, we can live at peace and with joy—not based on our circumstances, but because God is good. The sky is not falling. God is still on the throne, and all His promises are true. Could this country go down the drain? Maybe, I don’t know. But I do know that God’s Kingdom will remain. So, we have no need to worry. We can have peace in the presence of our heavenly father.